her classmates Maya and Lena

A sharp gasp cut through the murmur of the crowd—too familiar, too close. Alexia’s pulse stuttered as two figures shoved their way forward, their convention badges swinging: Maya and Lena, her classmates from sophomore year. Maya’s acrylic nails dug into her own arm as she gaped, her whisper a scalding hiss. "Alexia? Oh my god, is that—"

Lena’s phone was already up, the camera’s flash blinking as she snapped a picture.

Alexia’s stomach dropped as she watched the image appear on the screen, her bare chest and exposed tan lines framed by the white stockings and garter belt she was still wearing. "What... what are you doing?" she choked out, the words catching in her throat.

Maya's eyes were wide with disbelief. "We thought you were just cosplaying," she stammered, her fingers trembling as she pointed at the ID card looped around Alexia's neck. "But... but this is real, isn't it?"

Alexia's heart sank as she nodded, unable to speak past the lump in her throat. She could feel the heat of Roxy's gaze burning into her, the humiliation of being exposed in front of her classmates almost too much to bear.

"This is insane," Lena muttered, her eyes darting between Alexia and Roxy. "You can't just... I mean, she's your friend, right?"

Roxy smirked, her lips curling into a mocking sneer. "Oh, she's my friend, all right. And now she's going to be my little plaything for the rest of the day. Isn't that right, Alexia?"

Alexia swallowed hard, her throat feeling like sandpaper. She nodded mutely, unable to meet the eyes of her classmates as they took in her humiliating predicament.

"Well, well, well," Maya breathed, her fingers still trembling as she took another picture. "Looks like someone's got a thing for embarrassing their friends."

Alexia's stomach churned as she watched Lena's phone flash again, capturing yet another moment of her humiliation. She felt the heat of Roxy's gaze burning into her, the weight of her exposed chest pressing down on her already-tightening throat.

"What are you going to do about it?" Roxy purred, her voice dripping with malice. "You're not going to stop me, are you?"

Alexia swallowed hard, her eyes darting between Roxy and her classmates.